Advice for losing weight when you're at college?
SpiderByte
Posts: 24
I'm a full time college student who lives on-campus, and I've been trying to lose weight for a while. Between classes, exams, etc, I don't have he time or resources to do any real strength exercises, though I am usually able to go for 30-60 minute walks every day or so. I also haven't actually been able to check my weight for a while since I don't have/can't afford a proper scale right nowIf anyone's got any advice I would appreciate it a lot.
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Replies
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Between classes, exams, etc, I don't have he time or resources to do any real strength exercises, though I am usually able to go for 30-60 minute walks every day or so
How bad do you want it??? :huh:
I went to a military school, and had 21 credit hours every semester, 6 classes a day, mandatory dinners and lectures in the evenings...this is before things like homework, socializing, etc.
How do you not have resources for strength exercises? Pretty much every college in America has a gym that is free for students.
Worse case scenario, do body weight exercises. Burpees, pushups, pullups, etc. Know them and master them.
Not trying to flame, I just don't see how you don't have "the time or resources" to exercise properly. Priorities.0 -
Ahhh college... the reason I got big in the first place. College, pizza, and beer. And kick-*kitten* mashed potatoes in the dining hall.
#1 Make smart food choices- LOTS of fruits and veggies, avoid lots of dressings and junk food sides. Choose an apple over chips etc. Plan your meals and snacks around your class schedule and pack stuff in your bag if necessary. Light string cheese and carrots! Tasty!
#2 You likely have access to a gym on campus, almost all universities have a fitness center. If not, then MAKE TIME. I worked full time and went to school and was on the newspaper - I assure you, you have to get creative, but make time. Take your books and read on the elliptical. Get a study/workout buddy and quiz each other taking turns doing push ups and crunches. Hold weights and do ab twists at home while you are taking a study break or watching TV.
#3 Bye bye booze. Beer will kill you in calories - if you do want to -partake, switch to a less manly, low-cal option and alternate with a LARGE glass of water. You'll be too full to drink more.
If you want to check in on your weight, go to the health center and ask if they can weigh you there. You're paying tuition, so don't let them give you any crap! Measure yourself as well- sometimes that it is a better gauge, especially if you're adding muscle tone.
Best wishes!0 -
I always wish i could go back to college cause I feel like I had a TON of time to workout. on top of classes i played basketball and had a job. just gotta utilize time between classes. I had a 2 hour gap between my one morning class and my afternoon class so I would go to the fitness center and get my workout in.0
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You live on campus. Walk to the campus gym in the evenings or early mornings. You have to want it badly enough.0
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Losing weight is mostly about food choices, not exercise.0
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Ahhh college... the reason I got big in the first place. College, pizza, and beer. And kick-*kitten* mashed potatoes in the dining hall.
#1 Make smart food choices- LOTS of fruits and veggies, avoid lots of dressings and junk food sides. Choose an apple over chips etc. Plan your meals and snacks around your class schedule and pack stuff in your bag if necessary. Light string cheese and carrots! Tasty!
#2 You likely have access to a gym on campus, almost all universities have a fitness center. If not, then MAKE TIME. I worked full time and went to school and was on the newspaper - I assure you, you have to get creative, but make time. Take your books and read on the elliptical. Get a study/workout buddy and quiz each other taking turns doing push ups and crunches. Hold weights and do ab twists at home while you are taking a study break or watching TV.
#3 Bye bye booze. Beer will kill you in calories - if you do want to -partake, switch to a less manly, low-cal option and alternate with a LARGE glass of water. You'll be too full to drink more.
If you want to check in on your weight, go to the health center and ask if they can weigh you there. You're paying tuition, so don't let them give you any crap! Measure yourself as well- sometimes that it is a better gauge, especially if you're adding muscle tone.
Best wishes!
Yep, all of this.
It's been ages since I was in college but I also worked a full-time job. If some of us who worked FT and went to college FT could make time for it, so can you.0 -
Count calories using MFP, as accurately as you can. If you can't weigh yourself, get a measuring tape, or pay attention to how your trousers fit. If you're not losing weight, eat a little less.
This NYT article discusses an effective 7-8 minute bodyweight circuit that can be done using only a wall, a floor, and a chair:
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/05/09/the-scientific-7-minute-workout
(Ideally you would do 2-3 circuits, for around 15-23 minutes of exercise.)
And follow up everyone else's advice to check out the campus gym. Where I teach, there's a small fee for students to use the new fitness center, but it's really cheap. And the locker room should have a scale.0 -
Count calories using MFP, as accurately as you can. If you can't weigh yourself, get a measuring tape, or pay attention to how your trousers fit. If you're not losing weight, eat a little less.
This NYT article discusses an effective 7-8 minute bodyweight circuit that can be done using only a wall, a floor, and a chair:
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/05/09/the-scientific-7-minute-workout
(Ideally you would do 2-3 circuits, for around 15-23 minutes of exercise.)
And follow up everyone else's advice to check out the campus gym. Where I teach, there's a small fee for students to use the new fitness center, but it's really cheap. And the locker room should have a scale.
I can think of a couple of work outs I've done in college involving a wall, the floor and a chair...0 -
Definitely check and see if your school offers a gym. I think even my school does and I'm in a small satellite campus as the main campus is still under construction (Texas A&M San Antonio
). I take 15 credit hours and have a full time job outside of work. I have regular access to workout equipment, but I don't believe it's necessary. If you have the desire you can find the time. Recording what I eat helps a lot. I also carry a water bottle with me everywhere. Not only do I save calories by not buying sodas and juices, I also save money! I make all my own meals, but you may not have access to that. My sister attend Texas A&M Corpus Christi and lives on campus. When the gym is closed she goes to the beach and works out there doing body weight exercises. I recommend seeing if your campus has any fitness clubs or seeing if there are any peers who you could start working out with. Running is a good one that a lot of people are more into. I always had trouble running regularly until I started running with a friend of mine. Now I run twice a week early in the mornings with him and have been doing this for over six months now. 
It takes a little discipline, but once you get the habit down, you'll feel amazing! 0 -
Try the same thing you did before going to college. If you were anything like me, I was broke so I could not afford to eat and actually lost weight. I also did not have a car, so had to walk everywhere. But if you are fortunate to get food...get healthy ones to snack on during late night cram sessions...0
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Ditto on what everyone else said. And if you don't think that you don't have the time now . . .well it does not get easier. Wait till you get a job and your metabolism starts to slow down and you can't afford a gym membership, because you are starting your career at the bottom.
Take advantage of the athlectic facilities and make good food choices. Exercise helps you to think more clearly as well. Plus at your age your body is set for peak performance. Start those good habits now. Best wishes to you and enjoy school. Life is good!0 -
You think your time is tight now.. add a job and kids.....
I carried over 30 credit hours, a minimum of 3 hours of practice time a day, a part time job and still worked out an hour a day in college. (either the on campus gym for weights, cardio video or running)..... I was gone from 7:30 am till 10:30pm... EVERY DAY. I still had a social life and had fun... not as much as some people, but plenty.
College isn't really an excuse. You have more free time than you will ever have in your whole life.0 -
Count calories using MFP, as accurately as you can. If you can't weigh yourself, get a measuring tape, or pay attention to how your trousers fit. If you're not losing weight, eat a little less.
This NYT article discusses an effective 7-8 minute bodyweight circuit that can be done using only a wall, a floor, and a chair:
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/05/09/the-scientific-7-minute-workout
(Ideally you would do 2-3 circuits, for around 15-23 minutes of exercise.)
And follow up everyone else's advice to check out the campus gym. Where I teach, there's a small fee for students to use the new fitness center, but it's really cheap. And the locker room should have a scale.
I can think of a couple of work outs I've done in college involving a wall, the floor and a chair...
Bahahahahahhah! :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :drinker:0 -
It's all about meal planning. You just need to pay attention to what you are consuming and how much you are consuming. Also be aware that it's very easy to let your body go into starvation mode during classes. Don't let yourself go hungry as this tends to lead to consuming large meals at the campus dining hall. Instead, make sure you carry around some light snacks in the 100 - 200 calorie range to consume between classes to keep your metabolism running all day. Not only will you burn more, but it will give you more energy to help you pay attention during class.0
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You have to want it. If you want it enough, you find time.
And I honestly do not see how you don't have time unless there is a bunch of stuff you did not put in your first post. If I can make time while in grad school, volunteering at 3 places, AND being my mother's only caregiver while she battled cancer (a fight she lost so she was in bad shape through most if that) then you can. So, stop the excuses.
Yes, my "advice" is blunt. But it is the type of advice that got me off my butt.0 -
The fitness and weight room at my college is only for people on the sports teams here. I guess I kind of assumed that was normal for most colleges. At sports games we don't even have our own basketball court, we go to a neighboring school and use theirs for home games. In regards to checking it at a health center, for some reason we don't seem to have one. I mean, we probably have emergency bandages and etc somewhere but no dedicated health office or anything.
I should have mentioned that It's not exactly a big campus or anything. It's not like Boston College where it spans several blocks or anything.0 -
you pay the same tuition as the people on the sports teams?0
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I don't see how that's relevant.you pay the same tuition as the people on the sports teams?0 -
you pay the same tuition as the people on the sports teams?
He/she probably pays more, tbh.0 -
I don't see why the workout equipment wouldn't be accessible for someone not in sports.
my tuition comment was my way of saying you pay to go to school there just like they do, why shouldn't you have access to the equipment? I would raise hell and tell them to go pound sand and use the equipment.0 -
you pay the same tuition as the people on the sports teams?
He/she probably pays more, tbh.
I don't know. I have a scholarship (non athletic), but they might have an athletic scholarship so I don't know for sure.0 -
See if your campus offers fitness classes! I also attend school as a full-time student but I manage to attend a fitness class almost every day! Also, like mentioned above, many campuses have gyms that are free to residents so look in to that as well! The gyms at my school are open until 11pm so there is definitely time for you to get in there! On days that the weather is bad or the facilities are closed I'll do online fitness videos, like tae bo, in my dorm room.
Don't give up! Look for the resources your school offers and use them to your advantage! (:0 -
I'm a full time college student who lives on-campus, and I've been trying to lose weight for a while. Between classes, exams, etc, I don't have he time or resources to do any real strength exercises, though I am usually able to go for 30-60 minute walks every day or so. I also haven't actually been able to check my weight for a while since I don't have/can't afford a proper scale right nowIf anyone's got any advice I would appreciate it a lot.
Forget the scale then. The scale is NOT a necessary tool for changing your body. Take pictures. Take measurements.
If you have 30-60 minutes to walk around then you have 30-60 minutes to get a REAL workout in! I'm hearing your campus has a rec center but only "sports people" go there? Find a sports person. Have them take you there. There's no way that you're not allowed in, just probably that you've never been there.
Regardless, you don't need a gym to get fit either. Start with squats and push-ups. Maybe mix them into your walks (and turn your walks into interval training to burn fat faster). Check out You Are Your Own Gym - it's a book or an app that shows you bodyweight exercises you can do to get a full-body workout. And look on youtube for short workouts! You can literally work out in 10 minutes if you're willing to go all-out for 10 minutes.0 -
You totally have the time! I'm transitioning to a new part time job, have an internship, Capstone AND 15 hours of (mostly research) classes. Find ways! I wake up 30 minutes before I go to class to do some exercises on a mat. I also ride my bike for transportation now so I count that as my cardio. Like they said, you have to want it bad enough. Think about how often you're supposed to be studying but instead you get distracted by TV or whatever.... if I feel myself straying from studying, I go for a quick run and come back and get back to work!!0
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When I was in college I lost weight just by walking back and forth to all my classes. It was 10-15 min increments but broken up into 4-5 times a day. Plus I would go running or hiking a few days a week. I never stayed in a dorm or ate at the cafeteria regularly, so I always had complete control over my food choices. So ya, I ate a LOT of frozen fruit/veggies with rice/potatoes and beans/eggs for protein, but I was plenty healthy.
There are plenty of workouts on youtube. You could get up early and do them if you don't share a dorm.0 -
You can build yourself some alternative dumbbells, just take two same-size water bottles and fill them up equally. I have two 500 ml standing at my desk. I know it's not much, but it's something. Jumping ropes are affordable and then of course the odd push-up/sit-up helps. you can find lots of other exercise online where you don't need a gym or money for. Hope this helped. :-)0
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Time management is your biggest problem.0
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College is a GREAT time to lose weight. You have a lot to do, but the hours you make are your own.
I'd echo the advice of others--you can do a fair amount of strength training with your own body weight--push ups, burpees, lunges, planks, etc. There's a phone app called "12 minute athlete" that's got some good workout sequences using your own body weight.
I'd go talk to the fitness room people again. Like others said, small college or not, I have a hard time believing that the gym is ONLY for the use of people on sports teams. It might be worth trying to negotiate with them--surely teams aren't in there 24/7. Can you (and other students) use it during off-peak hours? This is also a college-what would happen if you started a petition to the administration to GET a gym room or some free weights? I'm fairly certain you're not the only fitness-minded person on that campus who's feeling the pinch about a lack of access. At worst does the university have a deal with a local YMCA or other gym that students can work out there for a reduced rate (or for free?) A lot of gyms in college towns have student rates anyway. Its worth asking.
Are you able or willing to invest in some of your own equipment? A pull up bar, for instance?
Also check your local craigslist…people are always selling used equipment there. you might be able to score a few free weights for cheap.
Put up some signs in your dorm. Maybe other people have free weights you can borrow. A dorm-wide "equipment exchange" would be pretty cool. Talk to your RA/dorm leader. Is there a free room in the dorm that they'd be willing to let you work out in? (a little mini-dorm gym?0 -
start making your student loan payments early. not only will you lose weight from the stress, but you will not have any money left for food. Just kidding, but I'm serious student loans suuuuuuck !!!0
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Do you have a job? I don't see how there isn't enough time to exercise while in college, unless you have a job on top of that too. I work almost full time and school full time, so I understand how hard it is to get exercise in. I still get my exercise in, but i don't go at the same time. I go whenever my schedule allows for me.
I am sure you have a free gym at your college. All/most colleges do. Even the community college I go to has one ( but it isn't free ). The university I graduated from last year had a great free gym available for all students.
Also, you don't have to weigh yourself. You can see how clothes fit to see progress. You could also invest in a tape measurer ( mine was 2 dollars at WalMart ) and keep track that way0
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